When you have an overwhelmingly large number of things, storing them can be difficult. A lot of people’s first instinct is to pile their belongings up in their garages or attic, but doing this can be shortsighted. After all, in the future, you might want to use these spaces for something more productive, like a home studio, for example.
If you have a lot of things that you need to find somewhere to store, this post has you covered. In it, you will find out seven tips for storing things you don’t regularly use.
Self-storage Facilities
Self-storage facilities are some of the best places to turn if you are looking for places to temporarily store your things. Some people even use them for permanent storage. Whether you’re looking for self-storage in Liverpool or London, make sure you find a company offering affordable plans and rates. Some storage facilities charge small fortunes. If you do not find one offering good plans then you could end up overpaying. A good way to tell if a storage facility is worth working with is by reading their reviews. A company’s reviews can tell you a lot about them and help you to decide if they are the right ones. Instead of reading reviews, you can check out their star rating too. A company’s star rating can help you to make a decision as it can give you a rough idea of what customers too busy to leave reviews think.
Using Garage
While in the last section, reference was given to the undeniable fact that it’s a shame to use your garage purely for storage, if you have no other choice, go ahead. Your garage is a fantastic place to store things. If you plan on storing stuff at home in your garage, make sure that you store everything in such a way that you are able to find what you need, when you need it. Don’t put everything in chaotically, in other words. Stuffing everything in with no system will be annoying later on down the line.
Building Outhouse
Another good way of storing things on your property without worrying about them getting in your way is to build an outhouse. The construction of an outhouse isn’t something that has to take an especially long time, nor does it have to cost much money. In fact, outhouses can be purchased in flatpack kits. All you have to do is unpack them and follow the instructions provided inside of their box. If you are going to build an outhouse then make sure that you enlist the help of your loved ones, as jobs of this kind can be very punishing on the body.
Asking Friends
If you have a lot of things to store and nowhere of your own to put them (and do not have enough money to rent a storage locker) consider asking friends or loved ones if you can use their spare space. Bear in mind that most people are not comfortable with other people using their storage space, so if your loved one objects, then don’t push the matter any further. Only ask if you are confident they do have the space also, as they might say yes just to please you even though it is impractical for them to do so.
Renting Van
Another good way of storing things is to rent or buy a van and store them inside it temporarily. It only makes sense to do this if you are only storing stuff in the short term though. If you are going to be storing things over a long period of time, renting a van will prove expensive. If you own one or plan on buying one though, then vans can be great ways of storing your things for long periods of time. If you are going to rent a van then make sure you rent one from a hire company with good rates.
Buying a van has never been easier, thanks to the abundance of online car dealerships. If you are planning on buying one then all you need to do is use one of these sites. Alternatively, you can use a site that is designed for people who are buying used vehicles. You can get some very good deals on used vehicles online. Make sure that if you are buying a van for the purpose of storing things, that you measure the interior of the van. If you don’t measure the van’s interior you won’t be able to ensure that it is the right size for your things. If it isn’t the right size then you won’t be able to fit them inside and when it comes time to use it as storage, you’ll have to use something else.
Throwing Away
Finally, if you have nowhere to store your things and you have no intention of using them again, why not just throw them away? Throwing them away will save you a lot of time and money. Do not make the mistake of throwing things away you’ll use again though. Alternatively, you could consider selling your things. If they are worth something to somebody, selling them makes for a much better option as you’ll be compensated even though you have lost them.
Charitable Donations
One other thing that you might want to consider doing is giving our belongings to charity. Giving them to charity ensures that somebody who is much needier than you is able to still furnish their house or make use of whatever it is you are getting rid of. There are lots of charities you can donate to. Make sure you donate to the one that has the largest following, so your things can be evenly distributed among the needy. Ensure that the charity you give your things to has a commitment to ensuring that everything is used. Some charities take people’s things and then end up throwing them away rather than donating them.
Storing things you don’t use is one option. Selling them is another. Before you make a decision, think long and hard about whether you’ll ever need to use them again. If you are going to store them, then devise a system so that you can locate them again when stored.
